Automatic cooker.



0. E'. VANCE & P. s. BAKER.

AUTOMATIC COOKER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.2,19I4

1,139,932. Patented May18,1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Baal- IN] W4 mm q/vdneooao zwfiw 3 7 W Wal an gal atfozv'vugfi 0. E. VANCE &. P. s. BAKER.

AUTOMATIC COOKER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-2.1914. 1,139,932, Patented May 18, 1915.

2 S.HEETSSHEET 2.

heated to any UNITED j STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

OWEN ELswoRrH VANCE AND PAUL STANLEY BAKER, 0F MUSCATINE, 'I o'wlif.

AUTOMATIC oooxnn.

application area nae-li r 2, 1914. Serial No. 875,155.

To all whom it may concern? r Be it known t at we, .OWEN E. VANCE States, residing at Muscatine, inthe county of Muscatine and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Cookers; and we hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact'description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

which form part of this specification.

This invention is a novel improvement in automatic apparatus for cooking or heating packaged goods, articularly canned goods.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine having a heating chamberto which the cans can be fed continuously and from which they can be continuously delivered and wherein they maybe retained a suflicient time in traveling from the feed to the-delivery to insure the desired heating or cooking of the contents ofthe cans; and in which the cans can be subjected to jets of steam by which their contents can be for the cooking or preserving thereof. The machine will receive cans, .agitateTtheI'n while bein treated, heat them uniformly and quickly, and discharge the safely. The cans can be fed to the mac ine continuously or intermittently, and .the cans cannot jam therein as there is only one moving part inside of the machine by which the cans are conveyed from the feed tothe discharge end. I

We will explain the invention more in detail withrefercnee to the embodiment there-,

of illustrated in the accompanying drawin s, in whichzigure 1 is a side elevation of the complete machine. Fig. 2 is an endview thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged verticalsection thereof on the line 3-3, Fig. 45.; Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section thereof. Fig. 5 is a detail horizontal sectional view of the discharge end of the machine. Fig.1} is a detail of the'driving mechanism on line The machine preferably comprises a cylindric tank or chamber having an outer Specification of Letters Iatent.

desired temperaturenecessary cent endsof the bars 3 have theirvv inner web Patented m 18, m

wall 1 closed by heads 1 and 1 suitably secured thereto. Suitably journaled'in the bars of the head 1* is an axially disposed shaft 2 which extends outwardly through the bearin 1 on head 1 andjmay be"pro vided wit a suitable stuffing box' or g n Upon the shaft 2 within the cylinder are mounted spiders 2 to the peripheries of which are connected longitudinally disposed angle bars 3 which are set so that onean'gle is fiat and the other angle projects radially of the shaft, the said bars however lying longitudinally parallel with the ,shaft.

These bars and spiders constitute a rotary carrier or conveyer. within the cylinderby which the cans or packages are moved around in the cylinder as hereinaftereX- plained; and within the cylinder. 1 and secured to the internal wall thereof is aspiral guide rib 4 which extendsf'rom the feed-to the delivery end ofthe cylinder. The feed inlet is provided with aspout'l which projects from the side, of the cylinder and is adapted toreceive cans and direct them into the cylinder slightl .above= the level of the shaft and at the wi e endofthe spiral 4. I I j i The cans enter betweenthe adjacent {bars 8 on the cylinder, and are carriedfaround with said bars as the cylinder rotatesfiand can reaches the head 1 of the cyl nder where it comes over an-annular flange 4 on said head, which flanige' is'of slightly less diameter than the spi ers 2 so that the adjacent ends of the bars .3" can .pro'ect from this flange 4" as shown, and the a japortions notched or cut away as at- 3,.a dj a' cent flange 4, so that the (canswill ,pass

onto and ,rollupon this usage 4" when they reach the end of the cylinderadjacent head 1 This flange 4 is pr i j eawiih. a d

chis ioint.

l cfitr' g'n r .whic h eoinmjinicates.Witlrfit sea s p u mana e t eh 'd 7 8... that cans are discharged; by gravity at h, any steaihtha't a.; piiss but with. the. canmay be; directedout of the building, and similarly feed: spout 1*, may be provided with'a' plpe 1" by which any waste-steam maygbe directedout of the In order to cook the contents of the cans thoroughly we preferably subject the cans to the action of steam .jets as they move with and"alongtl i'e carrier. For thiSplirpo'se, an

; annular pipe or header may-be attached ,to the' splder 2 adjacent the head 1,- and to this annular head or ring 5 are connected perforated pipes *5 which extendparallel J 15.

with and beside the flanged bars 3? m such position that when a can is lying between any two bars3" it will be subjected to the action of steam issuing throughthe adja- "centparallel pipe/5 In" this-way steam 20 may be applied to each and every canon the carrier during the time that it is travel ing within the cooking chamber.

' The header 5 may be connected by a radially disposed pipe 5 to a pi e 5 'which extends out of the closed end 0 the pipe 2 and is connected by a suitable rotary stuffingbox 2 with pipe 2 which may be led to any suitable source of steam supply.

Steam may also ,be suppliedto the interior of the cooker, if'desired, by making shaft 2 hollow, asshown, and providing it with perforations '2; and steam may be supplied to this hollow shaft through pep forations 2 which communicate with an annularchamber 1 in the journal bearing 1 of shaft2 on .head'l. This chamberF is connected by a' pipe 7 to any suitable steam supply, not shown, and when steam is admitted through this pipe intochamber 1 it .40

will pass through perforations 2 into shaft 2 and then escape through perforations; 2

into the interior of the cylinder. a

be removed from the chamber, througha sultable cock 8 located at any desired level;- or it may be entirely removed through a a to pipe 7. All these steam supply and drain p pes may be suitably valved, as is well 'un- 'erstood P {The carrier may be'operated by any'de- If desired the'water'of condensation can suitable drain pipe 8 connected with. the bottom'of the chamber.

In case itis desired to useboth steam-and water'in heating the.cans,"'the Water may be heated by means of steam introduced ,into the bottom of the chamber. through pipes 7 connected to a pipe 'Pthat is connected sired means. Asshown a pinion 6' is ed :1: cured on the outer end of the shaft 2 and meshes, wlth a worm gear 6 on a transverse I shaft 6 journaled in brackets attached to the head 1., and on this shaft 6 is a pinion 6 meshing with a pinion 6 on a stub shaft 6 attached to a bracket 6 and carrying a I driving pulley- 6", which can; be belted to "any suitable source of power! The worm 6. is preferably made loose 1onshaft 6" and may be locked thereto by means of a clutch 6 ofany suitable, type} and operated by clutchleversin the usual n iaiziner.

To change thev speed, for slow. or fast ployed, and such pulley jmay'be placed on the spindlet", and after the spindle is set to tighten the belt it may be locked in place; such -drive adjusting means are well known and are not claimed herein. The rear head let cooking, difi'erent sizedpulleys 6 are emmay be provided .with-a man-hole for cleaning out, and a drain orrblow ofif'v 8 is provided at .the bottom. I I

In the construction shown steam is preferably admitted through pipe 5 to the header 5 and is distributed to the jet pipes 5 and directed onto the-cans resting upon the bars 3. Steam may alsobe admitted,

if'desired, through the pipe 7 and central perforated shaft 2. Steam is used at low pressure and any superfluous steam that passes out at the inlet or exhaust spouts is conducted ofi' through pipes 1 and 4, which pipes can be extended out of the building.

The shaft 2 is rotated preferably continually, or step bystep as desired, to cause the carrierto rotate and the cans to move around with the carrier; and the cans rotate the spiral 4 causes them to slideendwise on the bars, and travel from the feed to the discharge end of the chamber in the desired length of time.

1 Operation: The machine is especially designed for cooking fruit after it is scaled up in the cans by means of steam or hot water.

If it is desired to use water for heating the cansthe machine is filled about half full 7 of water, or until, the gwater'covers the shaft 2. Steam is then admitted through the 'ipes 2 and 7* and'heats the water; if supereated the temperature in the tank can be raised to about 216 degrees without presone-half of the time, and one-half of the. lame out of the water. The cans are preferably heated by steam issuing from the jet pipes 5 while the are being moved. When the cans are out o the water they are cooked by, steam; when the cans enter the'water, the steam escaping from the "at pipes heats the wateraround the cans. it it is desired to cook entirely by steam no water is used.

Steam is simply admitted through the jet pipes 5", the steam spraying on the cans as they revolve.

This machine is particularly designed for cooking by what is called the open process, and fruit requiring about 212 degrees of heat; and not designed for cooking anything that requires steam-pressure. By having a steam jet pipe near each row of cans on the carrier and blowing steam directly onto the cans we can easily obtain a temperature from 212 degrees to 216 degrees F., and this lessens the time ordinarily required for cooking. I

VVhatAve'claim is: 1. In combination, a cooking chamber, a rotatable can carrier or conveyor therein,

\ and steam jet pipes attached to the conveyer and moving therewith to direct jets of steam onto the cans being moved by the conveyer.

2. In combination, a cooker, a cylindric chamber having an interior spiral can guide extending from the feed to the discharge end thereof, a rotatable carrier in said chamber adapted to receive the cans and compel them to turn with the carrier while the s iral compels the cans to move lengthwise o the -carr1er, and jet pipes moving with the carrier adapted to' direct jets of steam upon the cans, substantially as described.

3. In combination, a cooker, .a cylindric chamber having an interior spiral guideway extending from the feed to the discharge end thereof, a rotatable carrier in, said chamber. provided with longitudinal grooves to receive the cans and compel them to turn with the carrier while the spiral compels the cans to move lengthwise thereof and longitudinally disposed jet pipes extending beside the grooves aiid adapts to direct jets of steam upon the cans .therein, and means for supplylng steam to such 'et ipes.

4. In combination, a, cylin er aving opposite heads, a s iral guide therein, a can carrier within t 9 cylinder comprlsing a shaft, and parallel flanged bars mounted on said shaft, a feed inlet, a discharge outlet at one end of the cylinder, an annular flange attached to the cylinder adjacent the discharge and projecting under the adjacent ends of the flanged bars and ada ted to support the cans that reach that ,en 'of the cylinder until they drop into the discharge.

5. In combination, a cylindric cooking chamber; a carrier therein comprising a shaft, spiders thereon, and parallel flanged bars supported on said shaft; with steam jet pipes arranged intermediate the said bars, a

header connected with said pipes, and a" steam supply con nected with said header.

6. In combinatlon, a chamber, a can carrier within the chamber, a discharge outlet at one end of the chamber, an annular flange adapted to support the cans that reach that,-

end of the chamber until they drop into the discharge. a

-7. In combination, a cylindric cooking chamber, a carrier therein comprising a shaft, parallel flanged bars supported on said shaft; steam jet pipes arranged 'intermediate the bars, and a header connected with one end of said pipes and a steam inlet pipe connected with said header; with means or regulating the depth of water in the chamber, a feed inlet and a discharge outlet, and means for causing the'eans to move longitudinally on the carrier as the latter is rotated substantially as described.

8. In'combination with a cylindric chamber having a feed inlet and a discharge outlet, a carrier in said chamber comprising a hollow shaft, spiders mounted on said shaft, bars mounted on said spiders; means for ad-' mitting steam'into said hollow shaft; and means for regulating the depth of water in the chamber; with an annular flange in the chamber adjacent the discharge outlet adapted to support cans reaching that end of the chamber, and a spiral within the chamber and surrounding said carrier adapt- 9. In a can cooking machine, the combination of a chamber, a spiral can guide therein, a rotatable carrier within said chamber and guide having longitudinally disposed channels adapted to receive cans and compel them to move around with the carrier while the spiral compels the cans to'move longitudinally in the channels, a can inlet, a can discharge extending into the chamber adjacent one end of the guide, and a circular' flange member adjacent the said discharge and projecting into the end of the carrier so as to direct cans reaching such end into said discharge.

10. In a can cooking machine, the combination of a chamber, a spiral can guide therein, a rotatable carrier within said chamber having longitudinally disposed flanged bars adapted tocompel cans to turn aroundwith the carrier while the spiral compels the cans to move longitudinally of the carrier, a

can inlet at one end of the chamber, a can discharge at the other end of thechamber extending into the adjacent end of the said carrier, and a stationary flange adjacent the said discharge opening and rojecting into the end of saidcarrier and a a ted to direct ncense let, an annular flange adjacent the discharge In testimony that we claini' the foregoing Y outlet'and prdjecting into the adjacent end as our own, we aflix our signatures in prcs- 10 of the carrier, and a spiral w1thin' the cylence of two witnesses.v

inder andsurrounding said carrier adapt- OWEN ELSWORTH VANGE. ed to cause the cans to move longitudinally PAUL STANLEY BAKER.

on the carrier as the latter rotates until the Witnesses:

cans reach the flange and enter the dis- N. ROSENBERGER,

charge, substantially as described. S. D. BAILEY. 

